Meghan Markle defended by 8 members of Netflix crew after toxic behaviour accusations

The Duchess of Sussex has received strong support from eight members of a Netflix crew who have spoken out against recent claims of her alleged toxic behavior

Meghan Markle has been defended by eight members of the cast and crew of her Netflix series titled, With Love, Meghan.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been subjected to intense scrutiny over their actions in recent days, five years after their bombshell announcement that they were stepping down as senior working royals. In January 2020, they announced their plans to live a more financially independent life away from the Crown and would still represent the late Queen Elizabeth.

In the latest bout of criticism against the Duchess of Sussex, sources have said that she could be "really, really awful" if she didn't get what she wanted. It comes after the release of Meghan's Netflix series, which has already been confirmed for another series. The show has received dire reviews, with critics and viewers alike insisting that Meghan has come across as 'out of touch' and 'self-absorbed' by sharing her household tips and cooking skills.

Following the release of the series, which shares a never-before-seen insight into her personal and family life with Prince Harry, and their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, former complaints about the Duchess have come to surface again. For instance, one unnamed member of staff didn't believe the claims that Meghan had bullied those who worked for her. But this soon changed. They said that Meghan would yell at individuals "without" raising her voice. This, happened on "any given Tuesday," according to the staffer.

"[It's] funny that people don't differentiate between the energy of being yelled at and literally somebody screaming at you," they added. Meghan was subsequently dubbed a "Mean Girls teenager," referring to the 2004 movie starting Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried.

While they were still working members of the Royal Family, several members of the household working around Harry and Meghan were allegedly forced out of their jobs. Sources claimed that one colleague, who had ties to a podcast quit after just three episodes of Archetype, Meghan's axed Spotify podcast. Elsewhere, some took "extended breaks" in order to escape Meghan's scrutiny before quitting.

Meanwhile, one source said that staff often undertook long-term therapy after working with the Duchess. "I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations, rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better," they added.

However, eight members of the cast and crew of Meghan's Netflix show have now come forward to sing her praises and dispel the previous accusations made against her which insinuate she is 'horrible' to work with.

Michael Steed, who previously worked on the Emmy-winning series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, told PEOPLE of his role on the show: "It was unexpected, but I embraced it...it was a lot of fun. I was always going to be the point of conversation, so she had someone to talk to at all times and make it more conversational and comfortable. But it certainly evolved to where the cameras turned towards me."

When it came to Meghan's presence on set, Steed described the Duchess as "friendly" and approachable and said that she created a "comfortable environment" for everyone involved. “Meghan as a person is totally L.A., California, through and through,” he told the publication. "Her relationship with the crew became really tight fairly quickly. She has an understanding of what it means to be on set and she connected with the crew more than anyone."

Of Meghan's character, he added: "I know it sounds corny, but I really think the core of Meghan’s being is her generosity. She wants to do the extra thing, and I think that’s something everyone should take to heart.”

Meanwhile, another crew member said that they were taken back by how kind and generous Meghan was to everyone on set. The crew member told People: "Most of the time, we're expected to fade into the background, to be invisible. But in this show, we were part of it. We were included. It was a very unique and refreshing experience."

The crew member added that Meghan was incredibly "warm," "approachable" and "genuine" and that she made sure everyone felt included, from Netflix executives to the director to every PA on set. The Duchess never let anyone feel left out or as if they shouldn't be included in the fun behind the scenes, he added.

Meghan's guests, Chef Alice Waters, makeup artist Daniel Martin, chef Roy Choi, skin-care founder Vicky Tsai, photographer Jake Rosenberg, and designer Ryan Sax have also all gushed about the Duchess, labelling her as "professional", "loving", and "kind-hearted", further dispelling the accusations made against her previously.

It comes after Meghan made a huge announcement after the success of her With Love, Meghan Netflix series. The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to reveal there will be a second series of the show. Sharing a video to her Stories, she wrote: "Lettuce romaine calm... or not (!) because I'm thrilled to shared that Season 2 of 'With Love, Meghan' is coming."

The show, which came out on Tuesday, was delayed from January because of the Los Angeles wildfires. In a statement shared by Netflix on Friday night, it was revealed that the second series of the show has already been filmed! The news another offering of With Love, Meghan is on its way will come as a surprise to some due to a wave of negative reviews from critics earlier this week.

The series, produced by Meghan, reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old. Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.

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